Eemaan is speech and action; speech of the heart and the tongue, and action of the heart, the tongue and the limbs. It increases with obedience (to Allaah) and decreases with disobedience, and its people excel one another within it.

”But Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts.” [Soorah Al-Hujuraat: Ayah: 7]

And He (The Most High) said:

فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ

”So believe in Allah and His Messenger” [Soorah Al-Araaf: Ayah: 158]

This is the meaning of the testimony ”none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah’’, and a person cannot enter the fold of Islaam except by way of them. It (consists) of the action of the heart in belief and speech of the tongue by way of declaration. One is not befitted except by way of threading their path.

He (The Most High) said:

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ

”And Allah would never make your Eemaan (i.e. prayers) to be lost.” [Soorah Al-Baqarah: Ayah: 143]

Meaning: your prayers performed whilst facing baytul maqdis before the qiblah was change. (In this ayah, Allaah referred to) Salaah as Eemaan, and it includes the action of the heart, the tongue and the limbs. And the Messenger– sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam– (gave the name Eemaan) to Jihaad, the standing at night in prayer during Laylatul Qadr, the fasting in the month of Ramadaan, the five daily prayers and other than them. Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) narrated: The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ”Whoever established Salaah on the night of Qadr with sincere Eemaan and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever observes sawm in the month of Ramadaan with sincere Eemaan and hoping for a reward from Allaah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” [Saheeh Bukhaari: Hadeeth Number: 1901]

And the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) was asked, ”what is the most virtues deed?” He said: ”to have Eemaan in Allaah and His Messenger.”’ [Saheeh Bukhaari: Hadeeth Number: 26]

What is the Evidence that Eemaan increases and decreases

Allaah (The Most High) said:

لِيَزْدَادُوا إِيمَانًا مَّعَ إِيمَانِهِمْ

”That they may grow in more Eemaan (Faith) along with their (present) Eemaan (Faith).” [Soorah Al-Fath: Ayah: 4]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى

‘’And We increased them in guidance. [Soorah Al-Kahf: Ayah:13]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَيَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدًى

And Allah increases in guidance those who walk aright [true believers in the Oneness of Allah who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden).’’ [Soorah Maryam: Ayah:76]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا زَادَهُمْ هُدًى

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance. [Soorah Muhammad: Ayah: 17]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَيَزْدَادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيمَانًا

‘’And the believers may increase in Faith (as this Qur’an is the truth)’’ [Soorah Al-Muddathir: Ayah: 31]

Allaah (The Most High) said:

فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا

‘’As for those who believe, it has increased their Eemaan (Faith)’’ [Soorah At-Tawbah: Ayah: 124]

And the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:

“Had you always been in the same state as when you are with me, the angels would shake hands with you. [Saheeh Muslim: Number: 2750]